Music comb with cast base



March 10, 1959 T. R. DUNCAN Filed Oct. 2, 1956 MUSIC COMB WITH CAST BASE r 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG.-|. FIG. 2.

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.5 T H I6 INVENTOR THEODORE R. DUNCAN ATTORNEYS T. R. DUNCAN MUSIC COMB WITH CAST BASE March 10, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 2, 1956 I ll/ Ill/IA FIG. 7.

INVENTOR THEODORE R. DUNCAN W MQ M ATTORNEYS United States Patent MUSIC COMB WITH CAST BASE Theodore R. Duncan, North Hollywood, Calif.

Application October 2, 1956, Serial No. 613,463

7 Claims. (Cl. 8494) This invention has to do with music devices of the type embodying a music comb and a relatively movable member for selectively plucking the teeth of the comb to set them vibrating in a predetermined sequence.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved music device having a novel music comb formed of sheet metal and mounted in a novel manner in a die-cast mounting base.

.More particularly it is an object to provide such a music device in which the music comb involves a novel construction that enhances the clarity and loudness of the sound produced by the teeth of the comb when vibrating. 'In this connection it is an object to provide a music comb of sheet metal wherein the slots separating the teeth of the comb are each interrupted by a relatively narrow bridging web between the teeth and spaced a short distance from the base of the comb. A further object is to provide a construction wherein a comb having bridging Webs between the vibrator teeth is firmly mounted in a die-cast base in a manner such that the portions of the comb from the bridging webs to the base, and the base as well, are firmly embedded in the base. It is also an object to provide a construction of this type wherein the vibrators or teeth of the comb extend into the die-cast base and the portions of the slots between the webs and the base are filled with the die-cast metal. I have found that, with this construction, provided the webs are narrow, there is much less tendency for the vibrations of one tooth of the comb, to be transferred to the teeth adjacent thereto than is the case with prior devices known to me. The construction thus makes it possible to space the vibrator teeth much closer than is otherwise possible, and yet obtain true pitch from each of the teeth. In effect, the construction enables a greater storing of kinetic energy in each actuated vibrator, since the energy is substantially prevented from being transferred to adjacent vibrators.

A further object is to provide a music comb of the type heretofore described wherein the bridging webs between the vibrators or teeth of the comb serve as a precision means for limiting the flow of the die-cast metal as the mounting base is cast about the comb and also serve as an inner limit to the effective lengths of the vibrators.

Still another object is to achieve a construction of music comb and die-cast mounting base wherein the construction of the comb results in an improved mechanical bond between the base and comb. Thus the comb is more firmly anchored in the base than has hitherto been the case, and louder, sharper tones result.

A further object is to provide an improved construction for the free ends of the vibrators of music combs having inclined free end portions which facilitates the plucking or actuation of the vibrators and serves to elfect a more instantaneous release thereof from the plucker.

These and other objects will be apparent from the drawings and the following description. Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a sheet metal music comb embodying the invention, but on a larger-than-normal-size scale;

Fig. 2 is a greatly enlarged fragmentary plan view of a portion of the comb of Fig. 1;

Fig. 2A is a view similar to Fig. 2, but showing an alternate construction;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevational view of the free end portion of one vibrator tooth, as on line 33 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3A is a fragmentary enlarged sectional view of the top end portion of a vibrator tooth;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of a music device showing the comb mounted in a die-cast base;

Fig. 5 is an inverted plan view of the device of Fig. 4, as the same would appear when mounted on a diaphragm;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of a portion of the mounting base and music comb of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a section on line 77 of Fig. 6, but on a larger scale;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of the mounting base and comb; and

Fig. 9 is a sectional view'on line 99 of Fig. 8.

More particularly describing the invention, referring first to Figs. 1-3, I show a music comb 11 which is formed from sheet metal, as by one or more stamping operations. The metal is preferably #1095 bright annealed spring steel, but other grades of steel and even other metals may be used.

The comb includes a base or main portion. 12 from which extend a plurality of vibrator teeth or vibrators 14. The teeth are separated, or defined by slots 15 therebetween. It is a particular feature of my invention that I interrupt the slots 15 by bridging webs 16 extending between the teeth and positioned adjacent the base 12, being spaced therefrom a short distance as compared to the distance from the outer ends of the vibrators to the base. The slots 15 may be considered as divided into outer slots 15' and inner slots 15" by the webs. It will be noted that in Figs. 1 and 2 the slots 15 and 15" are rectangular, having square corners and that the webs 16 are straight-sided from end to end. an alternate construction wherein the comb is formed to provide a radius 18 at each corner of the inner slots, here designated 15A" and at each cornerat the outer end of the outer slots, here designated 15A. Also, the web, designated 16A, is concave-sided and thus narrower through its medial region than at its ends.

While the construction thus far described is suitable for music combs whose teeth or vibrators are disposed in a common plane from end to end, I show a comb wherein the free end'portions of the teeth are bent or inclined so that they may be readily plucked by a plucking disk in a plane parallel to the plane of the main portions of the comb. The particular construction of the free ends of the teeth will be described in detail later.

Referring now to Figs. 47, I show the comb 11 mounted iua mounting base 20. This base is die-cast about the comb base 12 and has apertured mounting ears 22 and 23 for the reception of rivets 24 or other securing members to fasten the mounting base tight against a diaphragm member 25 shown in Fig. 5 only. Although In Fig. 2A I show 33 of the music comb base. While it is not essential, I prefer to provide a recess 34 in the main edge of the comb to facilitate the flow of metal in the mold to opposite sides of the comb base during casting. It will also be noted that the cast metal of the mounting base fills the inner slots of the slots 15 between the vibrator teeth. Thus there results an excellent mechanical bond between the mounting base and the music comb base, the comb being firmly gripped by the mounting base.

In the construction described thus far I conceive of the webs 16 as interrupting the slots between the vibrator teeth and that, therefore, each vibrator tooth in reality extends into the body of the mounting base and is separated from adjacent vibrators therein by the slots 15". There is a tendency for the vibrators, when vibrating, to vibrate within the mounting base although this is prevented by the die-cast mounting base in which they are embedded. The slots 15" filled with the die-cast metal serve materially to prevent transfer of energy from one vibrator to another and thus substantially eliminate cross interference between adjacent vibrators.

The construction whereby the vibrator teeth in elfect extend into the mounting base, being separated or defined by the inner slots 15', appears to facilitate the storing of kinetic energy to cause the vibrators to ring longer and longer. Referring to Figs. 8 and 9, when the vibrator 14- is deflected from position 14a to 14b and released it rebounds to position 140. The inner portion of the vibrator 14c (inside the die-cast base) tends to move in an opposite manner: when vibrator 14 is deflected to 14b, the inner portion of the vibrator tries to move upwardly to 14b; when vibrator 14 rebounds to 140, the inner portion tries to move to 14c. The web 16 on the shorter side of the vibrator acts as a fulcrum. Thus the energy of motion of the vibrator from 14b to 140 is stored up in the inner portion of the vibrator within the mounting base. The kinetic energy of each vibrator is thus stored up separately from adjacent vibrators as opposed to conventional constructions.

The webs 16 serve as a means of precisely limiting the flow of the die-cast metal during casting of the mounting base about the comb. The webs also serve as the inner terminus of the effective vibrating length of the vibrators. As previously indicated, the webs should be narrow so as not to transmit energy from one vibrator to another. I have found that the webs should be narrower than the vibrators they connect and preferably of the order of one-half or less than one-half the Width of the narrowest vibrator.

Another feature of my improved music comb is the particular configuration of the free ends of the vibrators to achieve better plucking thereof. In the operation of the device as a whole, the plucking disk is driven by the pinion 36 which engages teeth 37 on the periphery of the disk. A crank (not shown) may be used to rotate the pinion. The pluckers have a configuration substantially like that shown in Fig. 3. Referring now to Figs. 3 and 3A, it will be seen that each vibrator 14 is bent to provide an inclined end portion 46) which is preferably disposed at an angle of about 70 to the plane of the remainder of the vibrator. At its extreme end edge, the vibrator is formed to provide a radius or curved surface section 41. This assists the action of the vibrator passing over the top of the plucker. Also, in forming the vibrator as by a stamping operation, I prefer to cause a burr or lateral deformation of metal to occur at 42. After the stamping operation, the surface should be smoothed at 42. The presence of the burr or deformed metal at this region of the vibrator facilitates the escape of the vibrator from the plucker as the latter moves past the vibrator, resulting in a quick release of the vibrator without any possible damping action. In this connection it may be pointed out that the pluckers are preferably of a stiffiy pliant material, several of the presently existing plastics being suitable.

While I have shown and described a preferred form of my invention, I contemplate that various changes and modifications can be made therein without departing form the invention, the scope of which is indicated by the following claims.

I claim:

1. A music comb comprising a body of sheet metal formed to provide a comb base and a plurality of vibrator teeth projecting therefrom, said teeth being laterally spaced by slots therebetween, and a web between each pair of adjacent teeth, said webs being positioned adjacent the comb base and serving to interrupt said slots and thereby form a series of relatively short inner slots and a series of relatively long outer slots.

2. A music comb as set forth in claim 1 in which said webs are narrower than their associated vibrator teeth.

3. A music comb as set forth in claim 1 in which the vibrator teeth extend obliquely with respect to the longitudinal axis of the base.

4. A music comb device comprising a sheet metal music comb having a comb base and a plurality of vibrator teeth projecting therefrom, said teeth being laterally spaced by slots therebetween, and a web between each pair of adjacent teeth, said webs being positioned adjacent the comb base and serving to interrupt said slots thereby to form a series of relatively short inner slots and a series of relatively long outer slots, and a mount ing base of cast metal encasing said comb base and substantially filling said inner slots.

5. A music comb device as set forth in claim 4 in which said mounting base terminates on the vibrator tooth side in a plane which passes through the webs of the comb.

6. A music comb device as set forth in claim 4 in which the vibrator teeth extend obliquely with respect to the general longitudinal axis of the comb and in which said mounting base terminates on the vibrator tooth side in a plane which passes through the webs of the comb.

7. A music comb comprising a relatively thin, generally flat body formed to provide a comb base and a plurality of vibrator teeth projecting therefrom, said teeth being laterally spaced by slots therebetween, and a web between each pair of adjacent teeth, said webs being positioned adjacent the comb base and serving to interrupt said slots and thereby form a series of relatively short inner slots and a series of relatively long outer slots.

References Cited in the file of this patent FOREIGN PATENTS 4,551 Switzerland Feb. 4, 1892 193,108 Switzerland Mar. 16, 1938 255,730 Switzerland Feb. 1, 1949 

